Beau is riding like the two-time champ that he is, but nothing is assured in the world of bull riding–not happiness, not wealth, and not survival.

Beau is a two-time champion bullrider who is working on his third title. Sam is his long-time lover and traveling partner, who is feeling the sting of having just about the worst season he can remember. The two of them are on the road together twenty-four seven, and it’s starting to get to them a little, between the constant injuries Sam faces, and the relentless press that Beau has to put up with. Add in friends on the circuit who need their help and the fact that they have to hide what they mean to each other, and it’s no wonder that Sam and Beau’s relationship starts to wear a little from the friction.

When things blow up in their faces, Sam leaves the bullriding tour for a while, but the boys find out they’re far more miserable apart than they are together. Beau and Sam may agree to disagree in order to make peace and help out their friends Jason and Coke, but in the unpredictable world of extreme sports, nothing goes as it’s planned.

Can Beau and Sam recover from what just might the last ride of Sam’s life?

This is my favorite book in this series so far.

BA Tortuga has a way of making the reader jump into the pages and like part of he book. In being able to do so I was able to feel all of the pain and heartache that the characters in this book was able to feel. I was able to feel the fear and the guilt. I was able to feel the love and the acceptance. I was also able to the way each of the characters in this series was family even though it was not by blood.

I also love how BA Tortuga has taken such a dangerous sport and has made the book that she is writing about realistic. The rodeo and the guys who participate in the sport take a chance each time they step in the arena because it is unpredictable what an animal will do and BA Tortuga does not skip over that fact in this series.

She gets to the heart of the danger and incorporates it into the book. In turn it leaves the reader feeling the affects of what happens in eachbook and this book was no different. My heart truly broke for Sam and Beau.

This book was another amazing addition to the series and in my opinion the best book so far.

Thorne Lachlan knows a thing or two about getting himself safely out of a blaze. For years he fought in the world’s hot spots, a Commando with the Australian Army. Now, retired, he fights flames for the Royal Fire Service. When a grassfire brings him to Lang Downs, the next sheep station in danger, Thorne meets Ian Duncan and sparks fly that neither man can put out. But both men have ghosts from the past that stand in the way of moving beyond mutual attraction.

While Thorne longs for the home he could share with Ian at Lang Downs, he fears his own instability might make him a danger to others. And Ian’s always believed that the foster care nightmare he escaped before coming to Lang Downs would make any relationship impossible. Trust doesn’t come easily to Thorne or Ian until the fire’s aftermath forces them to see past the scars keeping them both from healing.

**Audiobook by William James**

I have to say that this was by far my favorite installation of this series. I absolutely fell in love with and felt for both Thorne and Ian. They both had hard things in their past to get over, but together they managed to realize they could no longer simply ignore those issues if they wanted to be together.

There is a lot of love that is shown in this book, not just between our main characters, but brotherly love and family love that comes from the other people we’ve gotten to know from previous books in the series.

I would say this is a standalone book, however, to really understand the way Lang Downs works, you’ll have to start at the beginning.

I can’t wait to read more from Ariel Tachna.

I will make one note about the narrator besides saying that I like the way he gives each character their own vocal tone so you know who is who and he reads them so well there aren’t any parts that leaves you wondering what just happened because it might’ve been read with the wrong feelings. The narrator does leave very audible swallowing noises in the audio, which I found quite distracting at times. Other than that, well done.

Office manager Sam Emery is unemployed and out of luck. When his emotionally abusive wife demands a divorce, he contacts the one person he has left, his brother, Neil. He doesn’t expect Neil to reject him, but he also doesn’t expect the news of his divorce—and of his sexuality—to be met with such acceptance.

Neil takes Sam to Lang Downs, the sheep station Neil calls home. There, Sam learns that life as a gay man isn’t impossible. Caine and Macklin, the station owners, certainly seem to be making it work. When Caine offers Sam a job, it’s a dream come true.

Jeremy Taylor leaves the only home he’s ever known when his brother’s homophobia becomes more than he can bear. He goes to the one place he knows he will be accepted: Lang Downs. He clicks with Sam instantly—but the animosity between Lang Downs and Jeremy’s home station runs deep, and the jackaroos won’t accept Jeremy without a fight. Between Sam’s insecurity and Jeremy’s precarious position, their road will be a hard one—and that’s without having to wait for Sam’s divorce to be final before starting a new life together.

**Audiobook by William James**

I have to say I was a bit wary with how this story was going to go knowing that Jeremy is a Taylor and that Sam is the brother of Neil, who didn’t start out so nice toward Caine because he was gay.

However, I have to admit that I’m glad that I picked up this part of the series because I did end up loving the story and the men, as usual. I just don’t think it’s possible for Ariel Tachna to write an unloveable main character.

I have to say that I really this this series is getting better and better as it continues on. We are getting men from off Lang Downs coming to find a place that will help them heal emotionally and even find love, although neither is usually the intent when they land there.

I love that we get little views of previous couples from the first two books, but not so much that it takes away from the developing story.

The more I read into this series, the more I love it.

The narrator did a great job with the voices of so many men and keeping them all from sounding the same.

Trace is nursing a broken heart. He lost his job, his boyfriend of two years was cheating on him, and his apartment building burned right to the ground with all his worldly possessions. It was time for Trace to get out of Minnesota.

So Trace heads for Texas and Riven Creek Ranch, the horse farm his aunt Lois owns. But hours before he arrives, Lois is in a terrible car accident that nearly takes her life, and Trace finds himself in charge of the ranch kitchen. Sounds simple enough and it’s the least he can do for his recuperating aunt.

Then Sawyer happens.

Sawyer is his aunt’s big, beautiful, muscle bound, incredibly sexy straight ranch manager. Someone who has no clue Trace is gay. And meeting the big man should have been okay, except it was in the middle of his aunt’s kitchen at five in the morning and Trace was nearly naked. Embarrassing? Yep. But the very next day Trace proceeded to ramp up his embarrassment by quantum leaps when he nearly sets his aunt’s house on fire and the brooding Sawyer has to come to the rescue.

Seems like Trace’s “luck” followed him.

Not to mention that Aunt Lois’s “accident” was actually attempted murder. And now, they just Can Trace figure out who’s behind the attempts on his aunt’s life AND keep Sawyer from finding out he’s hot for the cowboy?

He probably can’t. But he’s going to try.

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Since I haven’t read this author, I wasn’t sure what I was going to be in for, but it was a sweet story with some drama thrown in.

While some parts of the story were a bit predictable, I liked that the characters weren’t perfect. They had their imperfections and they didn’t fall into love at first sight, but had to work through numerous awkward encounters to get there.

The plotline was pretty interesting since there is a big twist that you may or may not see coming. I personally had sort of figured it out, but still enjoyed reading how it played out.

I will say that the story was a bit sweeter than I normally like, even with the undercurrent of violence and hate that we see because of the way those scenes were written didn’t truly feel ‘scary’ if that makes sense.

All in all, a pleasurable read that I would recommend to someone looking for a nice, light, sweet, funny cowboy romance.

Renee

“Sawyer! Damn. You scared me.” Trace fell back against the freezer suddenly feeling light headed. He took in the big body blocking any escape he had and his cock twitched as if it liked the idea there was no way out. “I didn’t hear you… behind me.”

“I saw your car in the driveway. How’s Lois?”

Trace shook his head in an attempt to clear it. “She’s awake and very alert… but…”

But someone wants her dead. Who? Someone on this ranch? Could it be Sawyer? I trust him with my life… That’s what she said.

“But what?”

Trace looked up into hard cold eyes. The question was genuine. He cared about the condition of his aunt. But what condition did he care her to be in? “Nothing… just… well… I guess you’re going to have to know… I mean…” Damn, he had to stop acting like a horny teenager in front of this man. “Let me… I’m going to make coffee…”

“It’s made. The big insulated urn on the counter is full. Just made it about a half hour ago so it’s fine.”

“Oh. Good. Let’s sit down. I need to sit down.” Trace took a few steps forward which brought him right in front of the cowboy. He expected Sawyer to move, to back up, but he didn’t. Then Trace did the unthinkable. His body reacted on its own as he put his hand on the big man’s chest and pushed. There would have been no way on God’s green earth he would have been able to physically move the cowboy without his express permission, not to mention help. But Trace’s brain seemed to totally malfunction in this man’s presence.

And, as expected, being pushed in any direction was never going to work for Sawyer.

Sawyer grabbed his wrist, twisted it tight behind Trace, which brought Trace up solid, against Sawyer’s hard body, chest to chest. Being several inches taller, Sawyer glared down into Trace’s shocked face, a smoldering look in his eyes. Trace could feel Sawyer’s hot breath on his face, sense the man’s tense muscles from his pecs down through his thighs…

Aubrey Klein is in real trouble—he needs some fast money to save the family ranch. His solution? A weekend job as a stripper at a club in Dallas. For two shows each Saturday, he is the star as The Lone Rancher.

It leads to at least one unexpected revelation: after a show, Garrett Lamston, an old friend from school, approaches the still-masked Aubrey to see about some extra fun… and Aubrey had no idea Garrett was gay. As the two men dodge their mothers’ attempts to set them up with girls, their friendship deepens, and one thing leads to another.

Aubrey know his life stretching between the ranch and the club is a house of cards. He just hopes he can keep it standing long enough to save the ranch and launch the life—and the love—he really hopes he can have.

Cowboys and strippers – yes please! Andrew Grey always writes struggling, solitary cowboys well, but the little touch of Magic Mike fantasy was a pleasant surprise. Aubrey, the struggling rancher moonlighting as a stripper, adds both heart and heat to the fantasy.

Beyond the fantasy, this is a simple, formulaic story of a closeted rancher struggling to save his family’s farm while fighting his attraction to an old school friend. Aside from exaggerated secrets and impossibly poor communication between Garrett and Aubrey, this is a low angst read.

I enjoyed this, but it was an effortless and not entirely memorable read; the characters have already blurred into so many other struggling cowboys in my cluttered mind. If you’re looking for a guilty pleasure to read with a glass of Prosecco in a hot bath, you’re on the right track.

When his dear friend Sam Bell is injured at the finals of the bull riding season, he takes that and his injuries pretty hard. His very own clown, Dillon, is determined to take care of Coke, which is tough when Coke is usually the one to care for everyone.

Coke has a huge secret from his past, though, and, when Dillon digs to discover what it is, the skeletons in Coke’s closet threaten to destroy both men.

Publisher’s Note: This book has been previously released elsewhere. It have been revised, re-edited ansd significantly expanded for re-release with Pride Publishing.

This series started on a high, but I’ve become increasingly frustrated with it. I really struggled with this installment and I’ve tried to figure out why.

Coke and Dillon are characters that have re-occurred since the start of the series, but they’ve never been properly described to readers. And oddly enough, they aren’t described terribly well here. If I hadn’t grown up in a redneck town where the rodeo was the social event of the year, I still wouldn’t have a clue about the nature of either Coke or Dillon’s jobs. After reading the story, I’m still not sure what either man looks like.

This seems to be following the path of most good series. By the eighth (or fourth – there seem to be two versions of this book and the series has a parallel universe where books are divided by two…) book, the first half of this story involves catching up with as many couples from past books as possible. The deluge of names and updates was off-putting for me. So was the idea of a romance with an already established couple at its core. By the time there was drama between Coke and Dillon, the story was nearly over.

And finally, I really struggled with the narrative voice of this story. I’m pretty sure that Steinbeck made up the rules for the Cowboy Western when he penned “Of Mice and Men”. While his characters speak with regional dialects and simple vocabularies, the narrative voice is always eloquent, his language beautiful. Here, Coke narrates most of the story but the narrative voice is as simple as the characters’ words. While I know that Coke and Dillon are more complex characters than their vocabulary allows, the unceasing cowboy slang makes for a disjointed read and leaves the impression of a relationship between two men with serious special needs. It just doesn’t work very well for me.

That said, Coke’s backstory is interesting and I enjoyed watching a long-term couple weather life’s storms. I didn’t find this as sexy or as emotionally moving as previous books in the series. It is fun to catch up with characters from earlier books, but I would have like to have read Coke and Dillon’s story on its own. So – I’m falling out of love with this series.

~Sarah

I just finished reading Comes Clown and once again I was impressed with BA Tortuga. I first started reading this book without having read the books in this series before it and I was lost. So I went back and read other books in the series so I knew who was who and what all the nick names are for whom and whom was with who. So that would be the one point that I would make about this book to others…, read the books in this series before this so you know where you are and what has happened leading up to this book because it is all important and and will help you to understand the roles everyone plays in this series and the events that have led up to each book.

Now more about this book. This book primarily focused on Coke and Dillion. Coke is still recovering from his recent neck break but is doing better or as best as can be expected after having a neck injury and Dillion is still his funny self and doing whatever he has to in order to take care of Coke.

In my opinion Coke is the heart of the bull riders and clowns. He is the one everyone runs to when they need support. Coke puts “his families” needs ahead of his own even when he is in desperate need of taking care of himself. When AJ calls about a family crisis Coke does not hesitate to run as fast as he can to be there for him and his family and along the way calls in the rest of their rodeo family to help them also. Even though Coke is the one to hold their rodeo family together as he does, he still has his own demons he is battling with but he does not let that stop him from doing what needs to be done for everyone else.

Dillion is “Cokes Clown”. Without Dillion I truly Believe that Coke would just be lost. Dillion is Cokes strength and Dillion shows Coke the love that he craves but would never ask for. Coke constantly takes car of everyone around him and Dillion is there to real him in and make him take the time he needs to take care of himself. Dillion is Cokes reprieve and his home no matter where they are. Dillion also accepts Coke and all of demons and thinks no less of him. It makes him love him more despite them.

This book shows the perfect example of what truly loving someone is. It is about taking the strength from those you love when you are weak and it is about giving strength to those around you when they feel as if they do not have it for themselves. It is also about loving someone unconditionally no matter what it is their past and not holding it over their head. This book showed all of that repeatedly throughout it. Cokes clown is definitely a book that can teach you what true strength, love, and family is. Such a wonderful book and great read. Cannot wait for the next book in the series.

Snowed In is a blend of frost, snow, and wintery lesbian romances from five Torquere Press authors.

A snowed-in band mom falls for a music teacher in Fearless by Shira Glassman. In To Melt a Frozen Heart, Heather finds herself stranded in a blizzard, by Sheri Velarde. Jessica Payseur delivers an icy little fantasy in Frost and Ice. Because of a snowstorm, Rebekah’s not so lonely when Lily can’t make it home in At the Bottom of the Mountain by Aiden McKenna. In Cold Chemistry by Cassandra McMurphy, Alyssa doesn’t want to want Jayne, but she can’t seem to help herself.

I love a good anthology, and this collection is exactly why. Plenty of variety, from the sweetly romantic to the down-and-dirty erotic, there’s something for everyone in this mix.

Fearless

by Shira Glassman

This was my favorite of all the stories. I love music, and the setting brought back my own memories of playing in those big events. Mercifully, we never got snowed in! I loved the chemistry between Mel and Lana, and I loved the promise of something more for them beyond their weekend trapped in the hotel with the kids. Excellently written, a combination of sweet and fun. 5 stars

To Melt a Frozen Heart

by Sheri Velarde

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first. It felt a bit rushed to me, and despite the steamy scene, I didn’t feel much chemistry between Ana and Heather. It was okay, but it lacked a little something for me. 3 stars

Frost and Ice

by Jessica Payseur

This was the only fantasy among the set, and it was pretty much pure erotica. While neither of those is my preferred genre, this one drew me in. The chemistry between Isolde and Jaq was hot…er, cold…well, it was intense, anyway. They were great fun together, and even though it was mostly about the two of them getting it on, I still felt like their huge personalities shone through. I know the writing is excellent if it gets me to enjoy something out of my usual! 5 stars

At the Bottom of the Mountain

by Aiden McKenna

I loved this one. I really felt the loneliness both Rebekah and Lily both experienced, and I was glad they found each other. I was also pleased to see a more mature woman discovering new love. The setting was gorgeous, and the connection between the two women was tender and deep. This one left me with a happy sigh and a smile. 5 stars

Cold Chemistry

by Cassandra McMurphy

This was a fitting end to a great collection. Both sweet and hot as blazes, the title says it all–Alyssa and Jayne had real chemistry. There were fun and playful moments, Alyssa’s insecurity, and Jayne’s patient gentleness with Alyssa’s fragile heart. I could not have adored them both more. This story left me both satisfied and frustrated–satisfied because it was so good, frustrated because I wanted more. 5 stars

Overall, I give the collection 5 stars.

~AmyM

This is a really delightful compilation of short stories. Together they covered a whole gambit of lesbian relationships as well as soft erotica.

It was interesting to read a novel that covered not only a wide age group of lesbian characters but also one that did not just stick to the traditional woman meets woman scenario. I was pleased to see that fantasy and magic were also included.

Each of the five authors offered a fresh and new perspective to lesbian love and attraction. This Anthology showcased each of these authors abilities in an absorbing and in some cases amusing way.

I thought the editing of this book was done in a very creative fashion. Each story carefully balanced with the previous narrative as well as the narrative following it.

With some Anthologies you get a mixture of good and poor stories, I felt all the tales told in this edition were well written and well worth reading.

Chris

This was a pretty good anthology, and the theme is perfect for romance. Most of the stories seem to be on the same level as far as the writing style is concerned. At the end of the book, I wanted more. Here’s a quick rundown of the included stories:

Fearless by Shira Glassman: I liked this one because it was all about new beginnings later in life. It’s nice to read a romantic story about a mom, and how sweet and circumspect the relationship starts because it happens around teenagers. A little different but very likable.

To Melt a Frozen Heart by Sheri Velarde: This is the story I had the hardest time with. I think it’s because when they first see each other, I get no sense of attraction between the two women. It also seems as though Heather’s past is rather vague, and I’d like to get a better idea of what she’s running from.

Frost and Ice by Jessica Payseur: This story made the anthology for me. It was innovative and unsettling, yet I just can’t help liking Jaq and hoping that she thaws Isolde’s ice.

At the Bottom of the Mountain by Aiden McKenna: Another good story about two isolated souls that come together and find themselves a little less lonely. I really liked that Lily was bold enough to go for what she wanted.

Cold Chemistry by Cassandra McMurphy: This was one of those stories that made me laugh as well as made me want to smack Alyssa. She seemed to do a back and forth type of dance, because of past hurts. But when she finally followed desire instead of allowing fear to hold her back, the result was magnificent. Another really good story.

All in all, a very enjoyable read.

Amy P.

I enjoyed some of the storiers in this anthology but not all.
Fearless by Shira Glassman-It’s a great story, slow burning attraction. Makes you want them to act on it and when they do its lovely . Made me what to know what happens to them next. A good story.
To melt a frozen heart by Sheri Velarde was a nice story of passion ignited between two women when Ana takes in the frozen Heather who has been stranded in a snow storm with no gas. Both had issues to get over and their steamy night together helped them both.
Frost and ice by Jessica Payseur was about magic and passion between two seeming enemies. I didn’t like his one and just found it a bit bizarre.
At the bottom of the mountain by Aiden McKenna was really hot and a great read. Neighbours who get to know each other on a cold night, with plenty of passion and good characters.
Cold chemistry by Cassandra Mcmurphy was the one with a bit of kink in it. A good read with lots of hot passion and interesting characters.
A good anthology .

Kitty Kat

A crust of snow caked the steps to the door, broken by a big set of shoe prints. Boots, she thought, and paused, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

Who was here?

She pulled out her phone and dialed Janet for the fifth time. The line crackled and popped, but it did ring. Alyssa glanced around to the window, but the curtains were drawn tight. The line rang more. Janet’s voice came on, soft and sophisticated. “You’ve reached the voice mail of…”

Alyssa hung up, feeling worried and a little defeated.

Did she smell smoke? She glanced up, and sure enough, there was smoke coming from the chimney. A burglar wouldn’t have decided to light a nice, cozy fire, would he? Whoever was here, it had to be one of Janet’s friends. What were their names? Erin and James?

She tried the knob, and the door swung open easily. Warm air beckoned her inside. Alyssa hauled her bag over the threshold and closed the door, afraid to lose one delicious drop of heat.

“Hello?”

The pop and crackle of the fire replied. Gosh, Janet was so damn lucky. The living room looked straight out of some winter resort, with soft leather couches piled with pillows, thick woven rugs on the floor, an ottoman covered in fur in the middle. The fire cast playful shadows across her feet from the red stone fireplace, which above, sported a breathtaking painting of the mountainside in winter.

Something creaked in the hall.

“Hello?” Alyssa said, her voice coming out thick and wavering.

A shadow flickered ahead.

“Janet?” The shadow paused and moved toward her. Alyssa’s mouth went dry and her hands tightened around the strap of her weekend bag.